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Definition of panther - 8 dictionary results

pan⋅ther

[pan-ther] noun, plural -thers, (especially collectively) -ther, adjective
–noun
1. the cougar or puma, Felis concolor.
2. the leopard, Panthera pardus.
3. any leopard in the black color phase.
4. Informal. a very fierce person.
5. (initial capital letter) Military. a 43-ton (39 m ton) German tank of World War II with a 75mm gun as its main armament.
–adjective
6. fierce; strong and violent.

Origin:
bef. 1000; < L panthēra < Gk pánthēr; r. ME pantere (< OF < L) and OE pandher (< L)

Pan⋅ther

[pan-ther]

Origin:
1965–70

Black Panther

–noun
a member of a militant black American organization Black Panther party active in the 1960s and early 1970s, formed to work for the advancement of the rights of blacks, often by radical means.
Also called Panther.


Origin:
1960–65, Americanism

cou⋅gar

[koo-ger]
–noun, plural -gars, (especially collectively) -gar.
a large, tawny cat, Felis concolor, of North and South America: now greatly reduced in number and endangered in some areas.
Also called mountain lion, panther, puma.


Origin:
1765–75; < F couguar (Buffon) < NL cuguacu ara, appar. a misrepresentation of Guarani guaçu ara
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To panther
mountain lion  
n.   Chiefly Western U.S.
A large powerful wild cat (Felis concolor) of mountainous regions of the Western Hemisphere, having an unmarked tawny body. Also called catamount, mountain cat, panther, puma; also called regionally cougar, painter3.
pan·ther   (pān'thər)   
n.  
  1. The leopard, especially in its black unspotted form.

  2. See mountain lion.


[Middle English pantere, from Old French and from Old English panthera, both from Latin panthēra, from Greek panthēr.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

panther 
c.1220, from O.Fr. pantere (12c.), from L. panthera, from Gk. panther, probably of Oriental origin, cf. Skt. pundarikam "tiger," probably lit. "the yellowish animal," from pandarah "whitish-yellow." Folk etymology derivation from Gk. pan- "all" + ther "beast" led to many curious fables.

cougar 
1774, from Fr. couguar, Buffon's adaption of a word from Port. picked up in Brazil as çuçuarana, perhaps from Tupi susuarana, from suasu "deer" + rana "false."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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